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NEW OFFER
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card focuses on the Southwest traveler with anniversary points, travel credit, upgrades, and money back on inflight purchases.
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Not only does the card offer multiple bonus categories to help you earn more Southwest Rapid Rewards points, but it is also loaded with benefits that are sure to offer quite a bit of value to Southwest flyers.
Here is a full overview of the card to help you decide if it is a good fit for your wallet.
Card Details
Card Snapshot
Welcome Bonus & Info
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
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The ratings for these cards have been determined
by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards
as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect
our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
” System
1094+ Expert Credit Card Guides
Great Card If
You’re a frequent Southwest flyer
You want to enhance your Southwest flights with upgraded boarding positions and discounts on inflight purchases
You want a card that earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points on your daily purchases
Don’t Get If
You rarely ever fly with Southwest
You want a card that earns transferable rewards
You don’t want a card that charges an annual fee
Southwest Priority Card — Is It Worth It?
When deciding if the Southwest Priority card is worth it to you, you should first consider how often you fly with Southwest. If that answer is relatively often, then adding a Southwest credit card to your wallet might make sense for you.
Next, you’d need to consider whether or not you think you’ll get enough value out of the card to justify the $149 annual fee that you’d pay.
For most cardholders, this should be relatively easy, as you’ll receive a $75 annual Southwest credit and 7,500 bonus points each year. The 7,500 bonus points should get you about $97.50 worth of Southwest flights — meaning these 2 benefits alone would offer you $172.50 in Southwest flights each year, easily offsetting the $149 annual fee.
Then, when you factor in the card’s other benefits like the Upgraded Boarding certificates, point-earning, card protections, and discount on inflight purchases, it is easy to see why this card is well worth it for Southwest flyers.
Southwest Priority Card Top Benefits
7,500 Anniversary Points Each Year
Each year, on your account anniversary, you’ll receive 7,500 bonus points so long as you renew the card and pay the $149 annual fee. You’ll usually get about 1.3 cents per point when redeeming your Southwest Rapid Rewards points, so 7,500 points should get you $97.50 in Southwest flight value each year.
$75 Annual Southwest Credit
Another annual benefit is a $75 Southwest credit that can be used to offset any Southwest purchase you make with your card — including flights! Given that, we look at this credit as a $75 discount off of a future Southwest flight you’ll take the upcoming year.
4 Upgraded Boarding Certificates
Frequent Southwest flyers know that Southwest has a unique boarding system, and sometimes you can end up on the short end of the stick with a relatively poor boarding spot — causing you to have a less than desirable seat.
No matter, with the Southwest Priority card, you’ll receive 4 complimentary Upgraded Boarding certificates each year, which will automatically move your boarding position somewhere between A1-A15, making you one of the first people to board the flight.
Purchasing upgraded boarding starts at $30 per segment, but can be quite a bit more expensive than that depending on the itinerary you’re flying — so 4 certificates each year can be a considerable cost savings!
Tier Qualifying Points
Those looking to work their way towards elite status with Southwest will love that the card offers you the ability to earn Tier Qualifying Points for your spend on the card. Specifically, you’ll earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points towards elite status for every $5,000 you spend on the card.
Discounts on Inflight Purchases
If you decide you want to purchase Wi-Fi, a drink, or another item on your flight, you’ll receive a 25% discount when you pay with your Southwest Priority card.
Card Protections
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: If the items inside of your luggage are lost or damaged by the carrier, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
Baggage Delay Insurance: If your checked bag is delayed by more than 6 hours, you’ll receive $100 in coverage towards essential items for each day that your bag is delayed.
Extended Warranty Protection: On eligible warranties of 3 years or less, your warranty coverage will be extended by 1 additional year.
Purchase Protection: Items you purchase with the card are covered towards theft or accidental damage, with up to $50,000 in coverage, up to 120 days from the date of purchase.
How To Earn and Redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Naturally, the 2 most straightforward ways to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points are by taking Southwest flights and using a Southwest credit card like the Southwest Priority card. However, there are many other great ways for you to earn lots of Southwest Rapid Rewards points towards free flights.
Southwest Rapid Rewards points are a fixed point currency, meaning the number of points needed for a ticket is tied to the cash cost of the ticket. Usually, Southwest Rapid Rewards points will give you about 1.3 cents in value per point. So while there is no way to get outsized value for your points, there are still great ways to redeem your Southwest Rapid Rewards points for fantastic trips.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
$1,200
$95
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros & Cons
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
If you’re looking for a more well-rounded card that also earns transferable rewards, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred card might be a better option for you.
The card earns 5x points per $1 on travel purchased through the Chase travel portal, and 2x points per $1 on all other travel purchases. Plus it earns 3x points per $1 on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, along with 1x point per $1 on all other purchases.
While it does have a lower annual fee, it also offers some excellent perks such as various travel protections, an annual $50 hotel statement credit on purchases through the Chase travel portal, a DoorDash DashPass membership (must activate by December 31, 2027), and access to the Chase travel partners.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.
This card makes it easy to earn unlimited points and qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass.
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
$400 + 40,000 points
$880
$69
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card
If you spend a lot of time in the air, it’s important to get a great deal on your plane tickets.
Southwest Airlines can help you get those deals.
One way to save is by using the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card. This card helps you earn points for all your spending, and earning more reward points is always a good thing for a busy traveler!
Pros & Cons
Pros
2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases
2x points per $1 on local transit and commuting, including rideshares
2x points per $1 on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
If you’re more of a casual Southwest flyer and can’t justify the annual fee of the Southwest Priority card, but still want a card that earns Southwest Rapid Rewards points, the Southwest Plus card might be a better fit for you.
With it, you’ll earn 2x points per $1 on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit, and commuting purchases, along with internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services.
The card still has an annual fee, which is $80 less than the Southwest Priority card, but offers benefits including 3,000 annual bonus points at your card renewal, 25% back on inflight purchases, and 2 complimentary EarlyBird Check-ins per year.
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